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The Royal Mint launched the Roald Dahl £5 series in 2016 to mark the centenary of
Dahl’s birth, beginning with Andrew T. Brindle’s BFG design. The series has continued
with major Dahl titles, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2020), James and the Giant
Peach (2022), Fantastic Mr Fox (2024), all in £5 denomination only (no Roald Dahl
50p exists despite occasional misidentification). This guide covers every coin, every variant,
and current 2026 realised prices.
Last updated: 8 November 2026
In brief. Royal Mint Roald Dahl coins are exclusively £5
denominations, never 50p. Series began 2016 (BFG, centenary). Collector-only;
none entered circulation. BU singles £18–£35, colour silver
proof £90–£160, silver Piedfort (mintages 2,500–4,000)
£180–£290, gold proof (mintages 400–750) £3,500–£4,500.
2016 BFG is the most-collected; 2016 BFG gold proof at 400 mintage is the rarest single Roald Dahl coin.
Roald Dahl was born on 13 September 1916 in Llandaff, Cardiff. The 2016
centenary was widely commemorated, new editions of every Dahl title, a major BBC
adaptation of the BFG, and the Royal Mint’s first Dahl £5 coin. Dahl is one of the
bestselling children’s authors of the 20th century, with combined sales of his 30+ titles
exceeding 300 million copies worldwide.
The Royal Mint chose the £5 crown denomination for the Dahl programme
rather than the 50p. Three reasons: (1) the larger 38.61 mm canvas suits illustrative designs
in a way the 27.30 mm 50p cannot match; (2) the £5 denomination is the established
Royal Mint commemorative format for major cultural anniversaries; (3) the precious-metal proof
variants generate higher per-coin Royal Mint revenue at the £5 size. There is no
Roald Dahl 50p despite occasional confused search results, misidentification of
Beatrix Potter or Peter Rabbit 50ps is the most common source.
The Roald Dahl £5 series so far
Year
Title
Designer
Notable
2016
The BFG
Andrew T. Brindle
Centenary; first Dahl coin
2020
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
RM team
Wonka Golden Ticket reverse
2022
James and the Giant Peach
Edwina Ellis
Giant peach + seagulls
2024
Fantastic Mr Fox
RM team
Lowest mintage Piedfort (~2,500)
The Royal Mint has not confirmed forthcoming Dahl issues but the franchise remains commercially
active (the Roald Dahl Story Company was acquired by Netflix in 2021 for £500m+, signalling
continued IP investment) and further coins are likely.
Andrew T. Brindle’s 2016 BFG design depicts the friendly giant blowing dreams through his
long trumpet into a child’s bedroom window, the iconic image of the 1982 book.
Brindle has designed multiple Royal Mint character coins; his other work includes the 2014
First World War centenary £5.
The 2016 BFG was issued in cupronickel BU (Royal Mint retail £13), colour silver proof
(retail £82.50, mintage approximately 10,000), silver Piedfort (retail £145, mintage
approximately 4,000) and gold proof (retail £1,995, mintage 400). The
gold proof is the rarest single Roald Dahl coin and the most-cited centenary collectable;
realised prices in 2026 sit at £3,800–£4,500.
Authentication
Five checks for every Roald Dahl £5:
Weight 28.28 g ± 0.05 g (cupronickel); 56.56 g for Piedfort silver; 39.94 g for gold proof.
Diameter 38.61 mm (same as a crown).
Edge milled, uniform, no casting seam.
Relief the character design should be crisp; cast counterfeits show soft details.
Obverse portrait of Elizabeth II (Clark fifth portrait for 2015–2022 issues) or Charles III (Jennings, 2023+) clear and well-defined.
Featured Roald Dahl coins on MyCoinage
Roald Dahl coin records are catalogued under the £5 commemorative section.
Frequently asked questions
When was the first Roald Dahl coin released?
The Royal Mint launched the Roald Dahl £5 coin programme in 2016 to mark the centenary of Roald Dahl’s birth (13 September 1916). The 2016 issue featured the BFG, designed by Andrew T. Brindle, and was the first UK Royal Mint coin to depict a Dahl character. Subsequent £5 issues followed: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2020), James and the Giant Peach (2022), Fantastic Mr Fox (2024), and further characters through the late 2020s. The series is exclusively £5 denominations, there is no Roald Dahl 50p.
How much is a Roald Dahl £5 coin worth?
Per coin: BU in Royal Mint card £18–£35. Colour silver proof £90–£160. Silver Piedfort (mintages 2,500–4,000) £180–£290. Gold proof (mintages 400–750) £3,500–£4,500 at current gold prices. The 2016 BFG, as the first Dahl coin and the centenary marker, commands a 15–25% premium over other designs in equivalent grade.
Did Roald Dahl coins enter circulation?
No. Every Roald Dahl £5 coin is a collector-only commemorative, sold direct via the Royal Mint shop in sealed presentation packaging. The £5 denomination has been a Royal Mint commemorative-only format since the 1990s, circulating £1 and £2 coins do the heavy lifting in change. Roald Dahl £5 coins have never been intended for circulation.
Who designed the Roald Dahl coins?
Various Royal Mint engravers, with input from Quentin Blake’s original 1980s illustrations (where licensed) and the Roald Dahl Story Company. The 2016 BFG was designed by Andrew T. Brindle. The 2020 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was a Royal Mint team design. The 2022 James and the Giant Peach was designed by Edwina Ellis. Each coin’s reverse references a specific iconic image from the book (the BFG’s dream-blowing trumpet; the Wonka Golden Ticket; the giant peach being attacked by seagulls).
Is there a Roald Dahl 50p?
No. Roald Dahl coins are exclusively £5 denominations. Searches for “Roald Dahl 50p” sometimes turn up listings, but these are either misidentified coins (often Beatrix Potter, which IS a 50p series) or counterfeit / novelty pieces. The Royal Mint has not announced a Roald Dahl 50p and the £5 format suits the larger-canvas illustrative designs Dahl’s work calls for.
What is the rarest Roald Dahl coin?
The 2016 BFG is the most-collected due to centenary significance, but mintage-wise the gold proof variants across all designs are rarest at 400–750 coins per design. The 2016 BFG gold proof (mintage 400) is the single rarest Roald Dahl coin and trades at £3,500–£4,500 at current gold prices. The 2024 Fantastic Mr Fox Piedfort had a particularly low silver Piedfort mintage of 2,500 (versus typical 3,500–4,000), making it second-tier rare in the series.
How can I tell a real Roald Dahl £5 from a fake?
Five checks: weight 28.28 g ± 0.05 g (or 56.56 g for Piedfort); diameter 38.61 mm; edge milled and uniform; relief on the character design should be crisp; obverse portrait clear and well-defined. Counterfeit £5 coins are uncommon, the cupronickel material has no bullion value and the secondary market premium is modest. Gold proof Roald Dahl coins warrant CGS UK, PCGS or NGC authentication; the £25–£50 fee is easily justified at £3,500+ value.
Are Roald Dahl coins a good investment?
A respectable collectable rather than an investment-grade asset. BU coins have approximately tripled from Royal Mint retail (£10–£15) to current £18–£35 over 2016–2026, but absolute returns are modest. Silver Piedforts have delivered the strongest returns, 50–130% over original retail, with the lowest-mintage 2024 Fantastic Mr Fox Piedfort showing the steepest curve. Gold proofs have tracked the gold price plus collector premium. For genuine investment-grade UK coinage, see gold sovereigns, CGT-exempt and with deeper historical pricing data.
Where should I sell a Roald Dahl coin?
BU singles in original Royal Mint card: eBay UK, £18–£35. Silver proofs and Piedforts: eBay or specialist auction. Gold proofs: Baldwin’s, Spink or Noonans, the wider bidder base typically realises higher than eBay for £3,500+ Roald Dahl gold coins.
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